Pneumatic cleaning apparatus.



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APPLICATION FILED DEG. 4, 1913,

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

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A. E. TOLIN. PNEUMATIG CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEI/24,1913

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

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JERCE'E,.TOLIN, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNR T0 EXCELLO MANUFACTURING .UOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.v

PNEUMATICI CLEANING APPARATS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan.. 5, llgll'i.

Application led December 4:, 1913. Serial No. 804,70a.

To all ywhom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT E. ToLrN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Anderson, county of Madison, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to that type of cleaning devices in which the dust'- laden air frcm the nozzle is caused to pass through a process of being cleaned, for in stance by an air cleaning liquid, although some features of the in\ ention are equally applicable to other types of cleaning nia-- chines.

'l'he primary objects of the present invention are to p'novide air deflecting apparatus in combinationE with pneumatic cleaning devices whereby either suction orl compression may be' present at the cleaning nozzle as desired: whereby such suction or compression may be changed readily from one to the other. and, indeed, practically instantly;

whereby suction or compression may readily be had in the interior of the air-cleaning receptacle, and whereby a change from'one to the other therein may readily be made; whereby suction or compression at the cleaning nozzle or in the air-cleaning receptacle may be had to provide a sequence of various cleaning operations, as desired, and "also whereby some of these functions may he einployed individually or collectively as de.- sired; whereby suchchanges in operationvor function may be had without reversing or strppina' the operation of the. machine, and whereby they may be had without reversing the working air current in the current gen erating circuit, and whereby such changes may be made either at the machine itself or at a distance therefron'nas at the place, for instance, where the cleaning and renovating is being done; to provide means whereby the collected dirt in the apparatus may be forced outside the saine .and the dirt collectin@ receptacle thoroughly cleaned, and this also without-stopping the machine, and without the necessity' of the operators being close to it; to providetannr cleaning means which are automatic or practically automatic in operation; to providetjmeans for maintaining a normal supply of air-cleaning liquid in the air-cleaning apparatusat all times as desired, and also toprovide such means adapted to operate automatically to such end; to provide means whereby the cleaning apparatus is preserved from back flow, as from a sewer; to provide an aircleaning discharge nozzleadapted to cooperate with an air-cleaning liquid eifectively to separate the dust and dirt from the dirt-laden current; to provide in some forms of the invention a unitary apparatus adapted to provide the advantages hereinsct forth, to provide apparatus of the character described vwhich shall be of simple constructioinlstrong and durable. compact, occupy ing small space, and not likely to get out of order. Still other objects will appear from vthe following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspeciication, I have illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention and improvement to which reference has been made, and have also shown a modiv iication of the air deilecting apparatus constituting an important feature thereof.

Figure 1 of these drawings is a side view, partir in section, of the preferred form where the appa `atus is combined in a unitary structure; Fig. 2 illustrates anelectrical system adapted to control the operation of the apparatus of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a transverse vcrtial sectional view of the air detlecting valve and valve casing on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the directions of the arrows; Fig. l is a transverse vertical section of the same valve and valve Iusing on the line 4-4 of Fig. l inthe direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same parts on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. G is a similar view to that of the air delecting Valve portion of Fig. 1, but showing a modi lied arrangement of parts; Fig. T is a transverse vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the same elements on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 in the direction shown by the arrows.

The tank. container, or reservoir, 10 is adapted partially to be lled with an air cleaning liquid ll, such as water, the normal water line 1Q of which is maintained at its proper elevation in part bv means of an automatic valve 13 in association with an intake water supply pipe 14 and controlled preferably by a float l5. this automatic float valve being shown merely conventionally in the drawings. It will be understood that should the water 11 fall below the normal water line the valve 13 will open, permitting additional water to enter the tank until the normal water line is reached when the valve will automatically close, stopping the supply- Above the water body 11 in the tank is an air space 16 having a port or conduit 17 (see Fig. 5) leading to the interior of a valve casing 18 shown in the drawings as secured to and upon the upper wall of the tank 10 by means of bolts or screws 19. This valve casing need not however be secured directly upon the tank as suitable pipes leading from the tank to the valve casing will permit the valve to be spaced therefrom. The present arrangement is highly advantageous in the provision of a unitary and compact device.

From the lower portionof the tank 10 I provide a pipe or conduit 19 leading upwarl to a point substantially to the normal wat'eiline Where a bend is made in the pipe or conduit whence the pipe eXtends,'prefer` ably downward, and may be connected to a waste reservoir or sewer. This conduit 19 may have .a wall 20 within the reservoir as shown.

At a suitable pla'ce in the' pipe 21, as in the top portion thereof, an automatic valve 22 is provided which may 'be-suitably in the form of a hinged, plate adapted to open when water and dirt are discharged through the conduit 19 .and to close should there be any back pressure from the sewer, thus preventing sewer contents from euterin the receptacle 10. This arrangement of the outlet channel '19 provides also for the discharge of superfluous or excess water within the tank 10, for, as is clear from Fig. 1, such excess water will flow out of the tank past the valve 22. Means are thus provided for automatically maintaining in the tank the desired quantity of water for the effective operation of the device.

In the left hand side of Fig. l there is showna source of suction or means 23 for providing an air current for use in the sevsral operations of the apparatus. In the intimately connected and unitary structure illustrated these means comprise a blower of any approved type, the one in the drawings heiliga positive blower having coperating vanes mounted respectively on mandrels 24 and This type of blower is well. known and requires no ldetailed description. On one of the mandrls, as 25, there is provided a band wheel 26 driven by a belt 27 passing over the pulley 28 .of an electric motorf'29 secured upon the casing 10, as by the -bolts 30. Electric current being suppliedv to the motor-it is obvious that an air current will be produced by the blower through'the rotation of the wheel 26.

A pipe or suitable means 31 providing an air passage extends from the valve casing 18 to thesource of air current 23, the pipe 31 shown in the drawings being suitably secured to the valve casing by means of the connection 32.

Beneath the blower I preferably provide a settling chamber 33 in communication, by means of an opening or conduit 34, with the interior of the blower chamber. This settlingcha mber 33 is defined by suitable walls 35 and is adapted to permit dust-like particles or any foreign matter in the tor current to settle to the bottom thereof, should a material quantity of such dust or heavy matter pass out of the tank through some accident or untoward occurrence with respect to the working of themachine. It also gives opportunity for such lighter particles of dust to settle as may nd their way through the water 11` as when carried by small bubbles emanating from the air discharge openings of the discharge nozzle, a's 42. From the settling chamber, in the preferred construction, a conduit 36, which may suitably have a wall 37 thereof within the tank 10, leads to the valve casing 18 where it communicates with the interior l of the valve casing through a suitable port 38 (see Figs. l and 4).

A 4service pipe 39 is connected with the valve casing 18, and its hollow interior communicates with the' air deflecting valve chamber through a suitable port 40 in the chamber wall. This service pipe 39 (of which only a fragment is shown) is the plpe which leads to some part or parts of a building, such as the several ioors of a hotel, where it is desired to do cleaning by pneumatic means from time to time, branches of the pipe or the pipe 39 itself being provided at intervals with suitable means for connecting operatively in communication 'with the pneumatic cleaning apparatus flexible pipesor tubes which terminate respectively in cleaning nozzles. The extensions of the pipe 39, the connections mentioned, the tiexible hose and the cleaning nozzles, and the use of such nozzles are all well understood in the art and these parts not shown are merely mentioned for the clearer understanding of the functions of the pipe 39 shown in the drawings.

Within the receptacle 10, and, in the preferred ccnstruction, secured to the upper wall thereof, as by threadingthe same into the boss 41,1 provide an air cleaning discharge nozzle 42 having its hollow interior in communication with the air defiecting valve chamber through a suitable port 43 in the chamber wall. From a point at or somewhat below the normal water line 12- this pipe or nozzle 42 is divided transversely as by means of a saw cut or cuts on diametric lines, preferably two cuts being made llt) nina-D at right angles to each other, although these saw cuts or separations of the pipe wall may be variously directed or the nozzle may be otherwise provided with similar cornparatively narrow apertures. lln the preferred constri'lction, having divided the pipe as mentioned, the divided portions-of the pipe are bent outwardly, the lower portion of the pipe or nozzle thus being flared. There is thus provided a plurality of air discharging apertures 42 quite narrow at the top where there is less water for the air to pass through and gradually widening toward the bottom. lt will thus be seen that should dust-laden air pass downwardina current through the pipe 4:2 it will iind escape beneath the surface of the water through the apertures 42" and will be washed by the water so that it Will emerge into the air space 16 free or substantially free of dust and dirt.

Much trouble has been experienced with means heretofore suggested for freeing the dust-laden air of its objectionable lelements owing to the fact that such suggested means permit the air current to form large bubbles in the air cleaning liquid which bubbles carry with them large quantities of dust and dirt and discharge them into the air chamber before the water in the tank has had opportunity to moisten and 'absorb the same. 'llhe difficulties heretofore experienced have given rise to the Aprovision of even elaborate devices for preventing the large bubbles referred to, but the presence` of strings, l shavings, matches and similar gleanings of the suction nozzle has rendered such devices practically useless.- By the simple means here suggested these difficulties are effectively overcome.

llt is to be noted that while in the present example the slotted portion or nozzle proper of the discharge conduit ft2 flares slightly, its effective cross sectional area does not greatly exceed that of the upper part of the conduit. As a result the dust-laden air passes out through the slotsI with a'velocity at least as great, approximately, as. the rather high velocity with which it travels in the unslctted portion of the conduit. rlFhis 4produces violent agitation of the cleaning liquid, causing considerable spray in the tank above the liquid line; and this spray effects an additional washing of the air..

ln the preferred construction a cylindrical shaped valve, 'as 50, is positioned so as to rotate or rock in the valve chamber of the valve casing 18. Figs. 1, 3, 4l and 5 show this valve 50 Vin the same relative position, which may be termed the normal operative position for producing suction at the cleaning nozzlegwhich means the provision of a downwardi'air current in the pipe 39 in the relative position of the parts illustratedo rll`he valve 56 is formed with suit i ma able ports, the arrangement of which will be readily understood from a showing of their functions respectivelyin operation.

We will consider then that the source of air current 23 is causing-an air current, to flow toward it in the pipe 31. By refenence to Fig. 5 it will be seen that by means of the port 51, formed b cutting away a segmentary portion o the end of the valve,

communication is had between the source of ence ,to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the airV current passes from the source ofl air current into the conduit 36 and Areaches the port 38. By reference to Fig. '4l it will be noted that the aircurrent now passes'through a port 53 in the valve 50 and is discharged through the port 5t of the valve casingand into he pipe 55 connected thereto, or the current may be discharged directly into the open air from the discharge port 5d. rlhis arrangement and position of the valve is therefore suitable as stated for cleaning by suction at the cleaning nozzle.

Suppose now it be desired to have compression in the service pipe 39 so that dust and dirt may be blown by the cleaning nozzle from crevices or from fabrics or surfaces not susceptible of being cleaned by suction. rllhe valve 50 is given substantially a one-eighth turn in an anti-clockwise direction from the positions shown in Figs. 3, t and 5. Looking atFig. 5 it will be noted that the gateway or port 17 will now be closed by a portion 50a of the valve 50 which is not cut away and at the same time the/intake opening or ports56 will be opened so that communication will.; be had there'- through to the assageway 31 of the .pipe 31 and thus to t e source of air current 23. After passing through the blower the air current again reaches the port 38 through the pipe 36.- By looking at Fig. 4r it will be plain that when the valve 50 has been given face of the valve 50) extends to and opensy into the port 52, and, considering that the valve 50 of Fig. 3 is given substantially a one-eighth turn in an anti-clockwise direction, it is plain that the air current will paas from the port 38 to the port 52 where it is free to ascend the pipe 39 (owing to the enlargement 52 of the port 52) or descend into the discharge nozzle 42 through the port 43. Inasmuch, however, as the discharge of the water 1l through the discharge conduit 19 involves considerable pressure, the air will naturally ascend the pipe 39 and provide an outwardly flowing stream at the cleaning nozzle.

With the valve 50 in this one-eighth-turn position the tank 10 may be emptied and cleaned by closing a valve in the fiow through -the pipe 39, as at the cleaning nozzle, but it will be observed that if the valve is now given another one-eighth turn in an anti-clockwise direction the air flow will in all respects be the same as in the initial oneeighth-turn position l except that the port 40 leading into the pipe 39 will be closed. Thus in this third position of the valve air is taken at'the-intake 56 (F ig. 5) and discharged through the air cleaning discharge nozzle 42 and no air ascends the pipe 39.

It will be noted that the direction! of the current in the air current generating appara'tus or in the passageways, as 3l and 36, is not changed during any of the operations. This is an important feature as it is seldom possible to reverse the operation of a blower and do eective work, and, furthermore, much time is saved by continuingthe blower steadily at work while the various cleaning operations are being done. Numerous other advantages will be obvious to persons skilled inthe art.

In the modification of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is a single port 56 adapted for the intake from and outlet to the open air. The valve is shown in the normal operative position for cleaning by suction. It will be seen that the air current entering the valve 60 through the port .38 will travel through the port-.61 (Fig. 7) and be discharged through the opening 56. lVhen the valve 60 is given a quarter turn in an anti-clockwise direction air is taken in at 56', the port 17 is closed (see Fig. 8), the channellike port 62 is inacommunication with the port 38, and the `|`current flows into the port 52, which is shown-as two straight-through ports crossed inthe' middle 4and at right angles to each other. In the several figures on Sheet 2 of the drawings the first eighth and the quarter turn positions of the preferred and modified forms of the valves respectively are shown in dotted lines.

The valve may be operated by means of a handle 65 on the valve stem 66 suitably packed as by the packing nut 67 on the valve casing head G8. In the preferred arrangement, however, I employ an electrical control comprising, for illustration, a pair of solenoid magnets 70 and 71, having their armatures 72 and 73 suitably connected to a either such suction current or lever 74 secured to the valve stem 66 so as to turn the same when either one or the other of the solenoids is energized. A switch '75 completes thg circuit with the solenoids respectively and a source of electric current 76. The switch 75 as well as the switch 77 for starting and stopping the motor, may be positioned at or near the place Where the cleaning is being done, and, owing in part to the automatic functions mentioned the operator may thus from a distant point start and stop the motor, get air suction or compression at the cleaning nozzle and at tions shown, and all changes and variations therefrom are contemplated by me as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of means adapted to provide a suction current and a compression current, a service pipe, a cleaning tank, a single valve in communication with said service pipe, said tank and said current-providing means, said valve being adapted to place such compression current 1n communication with said service pipe and tank, whereby either suction or compression may be had in said service pipe and tank simultaneously.

2. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of means adapted to provide a suction current and a compression current, a cleaning tank for dust-laden air, an air inlet thereto, a single valve in communication with said tank and with said currentproviding means adapted to place said tank in communication with either such suction current or such compression current, whereby either suction or compression may be had therein.

3. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a cleaning tank. a service pipe, a source of air current, and a unitary air-current deflecting device, means establishing communication between said service pipe and the open air through said tank, said source of air current and said currentdeflecting means whereby suction may be had in said service pipe and tank, said current-delecting means having provisions whereby.in anotheroperative position of the same communication is established between the open air and said service pipe through said source nf air current and said urrent-deflecting means whereby compression may be had in said service pipe.

4. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus,the combination of a service pipe, a dust collecting tank, a source of air. current, air current deflecting apparatus, said air current defiecting apparatus comprising a valve casing, afvalve element operatively positioned in said casing,- said casing having a plurality of ports in communication with the outer air (one thereof being in such communication through said service pipe) said casing having a-plurality of ports in communication with the interior of said tank and having a plurality of ports in communication with said source of air current, said valve element having a plurality of ports providing communication from certain of said casing ports to others thereof in diferent operative positions of said valve element, the arrangement being such that. in

one operative position thereof an air current generated at said source of air current will flow through said service pipe, into said tank and be discharged into the open air, and in another operative position of said valve element an air current generated at saidsource will flow from the open air and be discharged into a valve port in communication with said service pipe, the direction of the air flow at said source of air current being constant.

5. ln pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a tank adapted to contain a quantity of air cleaning liquid, a service pipe adapted to have communication with the interior of said tank beneath the normal liquid line thereof, aA source of air current adapted to provide a blowing current on one side thereof'and a suction current on another side thereof, air deflecting apparatus, each side of said source of air'current being in communication with said air deflecting apparatus through suitable ports therein,

the interior of said tank and said service pipe being also in communication with said air deflecting appa-ratus through suitable ports therein, said air deflecting apparatus having an operative valve element, said valve element being provided with suitable passage ways adapted'to provide communication to the interior of said tank with one side of said source of air current when the valve element` is in one operative position and with the other side thereof when in another operative position, whereby either suction or compression may be had in said tank through the operation of said valve element, said air deflecting apparatus having an open air port adapted to be in communication through a port in said valve element with the suction side of said source of air current when compression is applied to the interi-or of said tank and havingr another port adapted to be in communication with the flowing side thereof through a port in said valve element when suction is appliedto the interior of said tank.

6. ln pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of means adapted to separate dust from dust laden air.; a current-deflecting valve, a' service pipe, means establishing communication between said service pipe and lsaid dust-separating means through said valve in two operative positions of said valve, means adapted to provide a suction current and a blowing current, means establishing communication between the open air and said dust-separating means through said current-providing means and said valve in one operative position of said valve, said valve having provisions whereby in another operativeposition thereof said current-providing means is in communication therethrough with the open air and said service pipe and dust separating means, the construction and arrangement beine' such that air may be drawn by suction through said service pipe and said dust separating means and be discharged from the cleaning apparatus, or be drawn from the outer air and be discharged simultaneously into said dust separating means and said service pipe.

7. lin pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the ycombination ofa valve casing, a valve element operatively within said casing. a collecting tank, means providing a`plurality of passage ways connecting the interior of said casing with the interior of said tank, said casing having a plurality of openings in communication with the outer air, pipelike means connecting one portion of the interior of said casing with another portion thereof, said valve element having a port adapted to permit air to pass from one of said outer air openings (this being an intake opening) to the interior of said tank through one of said passage ways, said valve element havinga port adapted to permit such air to pass out of said tank through another of said passage ways and into said pipe-like means. said valve element having a port adapted to-permit ai'rto pass from said pipe-like means intov the open air through another of said outer air openings.

S. ln a pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a collecting tank, means adapted to provide an air current, air current deilecting means, said deflecting means comprising a casing, valve-like means operatively positioned in said casing, said casing having ports in communicationwith the open air, ports in communication with said collectingtank and ports in communication with sa-id source of air current, said valve -like means being adapted to provide passage ways between casing ports in two operative positions of said valve-like means, the arrangement of said ports being such that inV one operative position. of saidvalvelike means an air current may How through one of said ports in communication With the open air, said port thus being an intake port, and into said tank, thence through said means adapted to provide the air cur-,

comprising a, casing, valve-like means -operatively positioned in said casing, said casing having ports in communication with the open air, and ports in communication with said collecting tank, said casing having a port in communication with each of the respective sides of said source of air current, said -valve-like means being adapted to provide passage Ways between casing ports in three operative positions of said valvelike means, the arrangement of said passage ways being such that in one operative position of said valve-like means an air current may flow through one of said outer air ports and into said tank, thence through said means adapted to provide the air current, and thence into the open air, and in another operative position of said valvelike means the air current may flow from the open air through another of said open air ports, through said source of air current and be discharged simultaneously into said tank and into said first mentioned open air port, and in a third operative position of said valve-like lneans the air current may flow from the open air through an open air port, through said source of air current and be discharged into said tank.

10. In pneumatic. cleaning apparatus adapted to separate dust from dust-laden air, the combination, with a tank adapted to contain an operative amount of an air-cleaning liquid, a discharge conduit adapted to carry dust-laden air entering said tank and having a nozzle portion extending below the normal liquid line therein, the cross sectional area of such nozzle portion being approximately not substantially greater than that of said conduit, said nozzle portion being provided with relatively long slot-like apertures longitudinal with the nozzle at a portion thereof below the normal liquid line in said tank, said apertures being substantially V-shaped, said apertures being adapted to permit dust laden air to escape from the nozzle in gradually enlarging streams as the air current proceeds through that portion of the nozzle containing said apertures.

11. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of a tank adapted to contain an operative quantity of an air-cleaning liquid, an air discharge pipe adapted to carry dirt-laden air extending into said tank and below the normal liquid line thereof, said discharge pipe being provided with relatively long and narrow substantially vertically disposed longitudinal slot-like apertures on a portion thereof lower than the normal liquid line in said tank, such portion having`an effective cross sectional area not greatly in excess of the effective cross sectional area of the remainder of the pipe.

l2. In pneumatic cleaning apparatus, the combination of' a tank adapted to contain an air-cleaning liquid, an air discharge pipe adapted `to carry dirt-laden air extending into said tank and below the normal liquid line thereof, said discharge pipe being provided with longitudinal slot-like apertures on a portion thereofl lower than the normal Water line, the lower portion of said pipe having its walls cut transversely and flared apart.

13. In cleaning apparatus, the combination of a service pipe, a unitary valve-like air current deflecting device in communication with said service pipe, a collecting receptacle in communication with said deflecting device, an air current generating device in communication' with said air defiecting device and adapted to be placed in communication with said collecting receptacle through-the operation of said deflecting device, said generating device being adapted to provide a compression current and a suction current in said air current deflecting device, said defiecting device having provisions adapted to place said service pipe and said tank in communication with a suction current or a compression current generated by said current generating means, means for operating said generating device and means for operating said air current defiecting device, the arrangement being such that either suction or compression may be had in said service pipe and tank through the operation of said generating device and said deflecting device.

14. In cleaning apparatus, -the combination of current generating means adapted to provide a suction current and a compression current, a service pipe, a collecting tank intermediate said service pipe and said generating means, and a single valve-like air defiecting device in communication with said generating means and said service pipe, said device comprising a plurality of elements adapted to coperate with each other in different relative positions thereof, said valvelike device having provisions adapted to place said current generating means, said Itank and said service pipe in communication with each other in different relative positions of elements of said valve-like device, the arrangement being' such that either suction or compression may be had in said tank through the operation of said generating means and said current de'tlecting device..

l5. ln cleaning apparatus, the combination of current generating means adapted to provide a. suction current and a compression current, a service pipe, a collecting" tank intermediate said service pipe and said generating' means, said collecting; tank being adapted to contain a quantity of air cleaning Huid, means adapted 'to discharge air from said service pipe at a point in said collecting tank lower than the plane of the nor mal liquid line therein, and a single valvelike air deiecting device intermediate said service v'pipe and said generating: means and in communication with said generating quantityv of air cleaningr liquid, a discharge f nozzle adapted to extend below the liquid line of said tank, a service pipe, air suction and compression generating means, a singlev valve in communication with said generating' means, service pipe, discharge nozzle,

tank, and the open air, said valve having portsadapted alternately to place a suction current and a. comin'ession current from said generating means in communication with said service pipe.

. ALBERT E. TOLIN. lVitnesses AUSTIN H. HART, CHAs. OCROWLEY.

Copies ot this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the fommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

